2021-03-17
The Greens have urged non-government MPs to oppose the Victorian Labor Government’s proposed tax on people who drive electric vehicles when the bill moves through Parliament in the coming months.
At a time when countries around the world are making EVs more affordable to drive down greenhouse gas emissions, our government wants to make them even more expensive.
With transport being the fastest growing source of emissions in Victoria, the move is negligent in the midst of a climate emergency and would see Victoria continue to be world laggard in clean energy vehicle uptake.
A recent survey conducted by the Greens of 912 Victorians found that 97.1 per cent of respondents were interested in making the shift to an EV, yet 78.3 per cent would be dissuaded by the government’s proposed tax.
Victorian Greens spokesperson for transport, Sam Hibbins, said the Treasurer had a lot of explaining to do to justify such a backwards and out-of-step tax.
He added that the tax was a sop to the privatisation lobby and that the question needed to be asked: will this tax be bundled in with the VicRoads privatisation to fatten it up for sale?
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens spokesperson for transport, Sam Hibbins MP:
“It’s outrageous that Labor want to be the only government in the world making electric vehicles more expensive.
“We’re in a climate crisis and transport is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria. We should be helping people make the switch to EVs by making them more affordable instead of putting up roadblocks.
“We’re calling on all non-government MPs to block this tax on clean air.”